Dempsey's Salary with the Tottenham Hotspurs

Clint Dempsey becomes the highest paid American soccer player in history, as he finally signs with the Tottenham Hotspurs on the final day of European transfer deadline. And it really went down to the wire, as Dempsey turned down one deal from Aston Villa and perhaps waited for a deal from Liverpool, but eventually got the contract he liked from the Spurs.

Plus, Dempsey gets his big pay day and the more likely chance of playing in the Champions League with the Spurs and their new coach, Andre Villas-Boas. Dempsey's salary at Fulham was in the $3 million range per year, which he more than doubles with this new deal.

Back in his Major League Soccer days, while playing for the New England Revolution, Dempsey earned just $86,488 a year. Well, he'll now make about $142,000 per week playing for the Tottenham Hotspurs.

The United States national team forward completed a switch from his previous club Fulham with just minutes left before European soccer's trade deadline expired after agreeing to a contract worth an estimated $22.2 million over three years. ($7.4 million per year).

The terms of EPL contracts are not made public but a source close to the deal confirmed that Dempsey is committed to Tottenham until 2015, with Fulham receiving a transfer fee of $9.6 million as compensation for losing their biggest star.

Brad Friedel was previously the highest-paid American, with the goalkeeper having earned $6.59 million per season since he joined Tottenham last year.

Friday's deal brought to an end a transfer saga that had rumbled on for most of the summer off-season, with Liverpool the strongest contender for Dempsey's signature for much of that time. Fulham even put in an official complaint about Liverpool's conduct after a story appeared on a club-related website insisting a move was imminent. (Yahoo Sports)

This salary seems more than justified for a player of Dempsey's quality, especially when you look at what the top players in the MLS are making. If Dempsey returned to the MLS, you'd think he'd have to make at least what these guys below are making:

Thierry Henry, New York: $5 million ($5.6m overall)

Rafael Marquez, New York: $4.6 million ($4.6m)

David Beckham, Los Angeles: $3 million ($4m)

Robbie Keane, Los Angeles: $2.9 million ($3.4m)

Landon Donovan, Los Angeles: $2.4 million ($2.4m)

Update: Clint Dempsey has made the move home and back to the MLS to join up with the Seattle Sounders, where he will make over $6 million per year for the club.